Locating, in a vehicle, one or more peripherals

Abstract

A method for locating, in a vehicle, one or more peripherals is disclosed. The vehicle includes a central power supply which includes connectors, each in a different position in the vehicle from among a predetermined plurality of positions. The vehicle includes at least two groups, each of one or more respective connectors. Each peripheral is connected to the central power supply via a respective connector of a respective group. The method includes, for each peripheral, taking an electrical measurement of the polarity of connection between the peripheral and the central power supply. The method also includes determining, according to the value of the measurement, a group of one or more positions from among the predetermined plurality of positions of the peripherals.

1 . A method for locating, in a vehicle, one or more peripherals,
 the vehicle comprising a central power supply comprising connectors, each in a different position in the vehicle from among a predetermined plurality of positions,   the vehicle comprising at least two groups, each of one or more respective connectors,   wherein each peripheral is connected to the central power supply via a respective connector of a respective group,   wherein each peripheral is adapted to be connected to at least one respective connector of each other group,   wherein the connectors to which each peripheral is adapted to be connected together form a respective plurality of connectors, each defining a polarity of connection between the peripheral and the unique central power supply for each group,   the method comprising, for each peripheral:
 taking an electrical measurement of the polarity of connection between the peripheral and the central power supply, and 
 determining, according to the value of the measurement, a group of one or more positions from among the predetermined plurality of positions of the peripherals. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein each connector comprises a connection interface and each peripheral comprises a connection interface, and, for each peripheral and each connector in its respective plurality of connectors, the connection interface of the peripheral is able to be connected to the connection interface of the connector according to a predetermined arrangement.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the central power supply comprises a set of poles and the connection interface of each connector comprises a set of connection points,   wherein each pole of the central power supply is electrically connected to a respective connection point of the connection interface of each connector,   wherein the set of poles of the central power supply is electrically connected to the set of connection points of the connection interface of each connector in each respective plurality of connectors according to a unique correspondence for each group.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the set of poles of the central power supply comprises a power supply pole and a ground pole,   wherein each peripheral comprises an electrical circuit including several sub-circuits,   wherein each sub-circuit comprises:   a distinct respective connection terminal,   a first common pole, and   a second common pole,   wherein each sub-circuit is configured to stop current from flowing from the first pole to the connection terminal and to stop current from flowing from the connection terminal to the second pole, and so that, when the current flows from the connection terminal to the first pole, then the connection terminal and the first pole are at the same potential, and, when the current flows from the second pole to the connection terminal, then the second pole and the connection terminal are at the same potential,   wherein each peripheral is adapted so that, for each connector in its respective plurality of connectors, the connection terminal of each sub-circuit is connected to a distinct respective connection point of the connection interface of the connector, with at least the connection terminal of one sub-circuit connected to the connection point connected to the power supply pole and the connection terminal of another sub-circuit connected to the connection point connected to the ground pole.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein each sub-circuit of each peripheral comprises a first diode configured to stop current from flowing from the first pole to the connection terminal and a second diode configured to stop current from flowing from the connection terminal to the second pole.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein each sub-circuit of each peripheral comprises a respective resistor,   the electrical measurement comprising, for each resistor, a respective measurement of voltage across the terminals of the respective resistor.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein each group consists of a single connector,   wherein each group corresponds to a respective position in the vehicle.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein each group comprises several connectors,   the method further comprising, for each group:
 providing the position of a reference peripheral; 
 relatively locating each other peripheral; and 
 determining the position of each other peripheral in accordance with the relative location and with the position of the reference peripheral. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 ,
 the relative location comprising a measurement of distance between each other peripheral and the reference peripheral.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein the measurement is a time-of-flight measurement.   
     
     
         11 . A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instruction for causing a processor to perform the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A peripheral adapted to be connected, via a connector, to a central power supply of a vehicle,
 the peripheral being configured to implement the location method according to  claim 1 .   
     
     
         14 . A system for a vehicle,
 the system comprising a computer readable medium according to claim  11 , and   a peripheral adapted to be connected, via a connector, to a central power supply of a vehicle and which stores the computer readable medium.